Economic Research
Economic ResearchTopic - Small Business
Ninth District Insight Report - Quarter 4, 2012
April 2013 - Ninth District Insight
Forecast models and surveys point to steady growth in 2013
District Economic Outlook
Rob Grunewald, Joe Mahon
January 2013 - fedgazette
Many business leaders expect sluggish economic growth in 2013
Business Outlook Poll
Toby Madden
January 2013 - fedgazette
New credit union promotes financial access on Pine Ridge reservation
The first-ever federally insured financial institution on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota is open for business.
Paula Woessner
January 2013 - Community Dividend
Rural CDFIs: Creating connections to marketplaces: A conversation with Mary Mathews of the Entrepreneur Fund
Community Dividend speaks with Mary Mathews, founding president and CEO of the Entrepreneur Fund, to learn about the circumstances and challenges rural community development financial institutions (CD
Michou Kokodoko
January 2013 - Community Dividend
Ninth District Insight Report - Quarter 2, 2012
Published by the Community Development Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
December 2012 - Ninth District Insight
Goldman Sachs awards $4.4 million to Montana CDC
October 2012 - Community Dividend
Call for papers: The eighth biennial Federal Reserve community development research conference
July 2012 - Community Dividend
Citi Foundation awards entrepreneurship grant to SDIBA
July 2012 - Community Dividend
Fed releases report on economic development in Indian Country
July 2012 - Community Dividend
Spanning the spectrum of Native workforce development
Initiatives under way in the Ninth District demonstrate that Native-focused organizations are working to increase work preparedness, education levels, and employment rates in the communities they serv
Jacob Wascalus
July 2012 - Community Dividend
Anatomy of the measurement problem
Ronald A. Wirtz
January 2012 - fedgazette
Self-employed: To be, or not to be
Unfortunately, that's a question without easy answers
Ronald A. Wirtz
January 2012 - fedgazette
Fed Community Development offices launch community survey initiatives
A new Reserve Bank-led initiative is designed to gather front-line information on economic conditions in low- to moderate-income communities.
Ela Rausch
January 2012 - Community Dividend
Leech Lake Band and State of Minnesota sign lien-filing agreement
January 2012 - Community Dividend
Minneapolis Fed launches Ninth District Community Insight report series
January 2012 - Community Dividend
Montana CDC project receives top honor
January 2012 - Community Dividend
Business leaders expect solid growth for their companies in 2012
Business Outlook Poll
Toby Madden
December 2011 - fedgazette
Minot: Reeling but resilient
Ronald A. Wirtz
October 2011 - fedgazette
Harvest Initiative and Hunkpati Investments: Stirring up economic development on the Crow Creek reservation
The story of how residents of the Crow Creek Indian reservation, a prominent businessman, a church congregation, and two young attorneys came to be deeply involved in improving the reservation's econo
Sandy Gerber
October 2011 - Community Dividend
Little Mogadishu in the All-America City? Somali entrepreneurship in Willmar, Minnesota
Somali immigrants encounter acceptance and some challenges as they establish businesses in a small city in central Minnesota.
Nima Hassan
October 2011 - Community Dividend
A health check for the job-laying goose
The recession has been rough on business, particularly new ones and their related employment. Can they rebound?
Ronald A. Wirtz
July 2011 - fedgazette
Hardly child's play
Times have been even tougher than usual for district child-care providers
Rob Grunewald, Phil Davies
July 2011 - fedgazette
Standing receives Minority Small Business Champion Award
July 2011 - Community Dividend
Businesses see expansion over the next four quarters
Business Outlook Poll
Toby Madden
June 2011 - fedgazette
Hispanic entrepreneurship grows, but barriers persist
Despite recent progress, Hispanic-owned firms lag behind in some respects. Fortunately, federal and nonprofit agencies offer programs designed to help close the gap.
Michou Kokodoko
April 2011 - Community Dividend
Businesses are optimistic for 2011
Business Outlook Poll
Toby Madden
December 2010 - fedgazette
Mild Ninth District recovery expected to warm up
District Economic Outlook
Toby Madden, Rob Grunewald
December 2010 - fedgazette
One order of confidence, please
Businesses in the Ninth District appear more confident, but economic and political concerns remain
Ronald A. Wirtz
December 2010 - fedgazette
Roll out the (wine) barrel
Winemaking is an emerging niche market in the district
Phil Davies
November 2010 - fedgazette
Sizing Up Job Creation
Are small businesses truly the engine of job growth? It depends on how you look at it
Phil Davies
September 2010 - The Region
Come and get it—please
Banks and credit unions say they have money to lend, but credit markets are still struggling for a variety of reasons.
Ronald A. Wirtz
July 2010 - fedgazette
Fed Governor Duke tours Minneapolis marketplaces
On a recent visit, Federal Reserve Governor Elizabeth Duke toured two culturally diverse marketplaces that have helped revitalize their surrounding neighborhoods.
July 2010 - Community Dividend
Starting up when the economy's down: A snapshot of Minnesota's new entrepreneurs
During the recent recession, when most people tightened their belts and took fewer financial risks, thousands of entrepreneurs mustered their courage and decided to try business ownership.
Michou Kokodoko
July 2010 - Community Dividend
Despite uncertainty, moderate economic growth expected
Toby Madden, Rob Grunewald
June 2010 - fedgazette
A slow recovery is under way
District Economic Outlook
Toby Madden, Rob Grunewald
January 2010 - fedgazette
Collateral damage
While real estate still struggles through the housing collapse, commercial mortgages are piling on more pain
Ronald A. Wirtz
January 2010 - fedgazette
Further evidence that businesses are still facing tough credit conditions
Toby Madden
January 2010 - fedgazette
Looks like another slow year
Toby Madden
January 2010 - fedgazette
CRF to launch green loan program for small businesses
November 2009 - Community Dividend
Overcoming start-up barriers: Native-owned food business serves up lessons learned
The founders of Native American Natural Foods demonstrate that the goal of starting up a well-positioned business on an Indian reservation is attainable, provided certain elements are in place.
Sandy Gerber
November 2009 - Community Dividend
Patch job: repairing the unemployment safety net
State unemployment insurance funds are facing big challenges that could have long-term consequences for employers and workers
Mike Meyers
November 2009 - fedgazette
The L3C: A new business model for socially responsible investing
The low-profit limited liability company, or L3C, is a newly developed form of business that blends attributes of nonprofit and for-profit organizations in order to promote investment in so
Sue Woodrow, Steve Davis
November 2009 - Community Dividend
What grows in the Ninth, stays in the Ninth
Community supported agriculture flourishes in the district
Joe Mahon, Kathy Cobb
September 2009 - fedgazette
A nice place to visit, but ...
Tourism can spark economic growth, but public funding of the industry is questionable
Phil Davies
May 2009 - fedgazette
Lessons learned from 22 years of debt mediation
The 22-year history of the Minnesota Farmer-Lender Mediation Program offers useful lessons about debt mediation that can be applied to our current foreclosure crisis.
Joyce Hoelting
May 2009 - Community Dividend
Tingerthal joins Consumer Advisory Council
May 2009 - Community Dividend
Where have all the tourists gone?
Leisure travel has been hit hard in many parts of the district. Tourism businesses and promoters have been forced to adapt.
Phil Davies
May 2009 - fedgazette
All signs point to a down 2009
Business Outlook Poll Results
Toby Madden
January 2009 - fedgazette
Earning income, serving the community: Guidance for building a social enterprise
A description of the important steps nonprofit organizations should follow when creating enterprises to boost their earned income.
Kate Barr
January 2009 - Community Dividend
Has your company’s access to credit deteriorated over the past three months?
District Map
January 2009 - fedgazette
Oglala Sioux and State of South Dakota sign historic lien-filing agreement
A newly signed UCC lien-filing agreement between the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the State of South Dakota is designed to facilitate business and consumer lending on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Sue Woodrow, Dani Daugherty
November 2008 - Community Dividend
The second garage
Robust growth in self-storage space has slowed, but the district outlook calls for further expansion
Joe Mahon
November 2008 - fedgazette
A "Six Forces" view of microenterprise development
What happens when we apply a prominent, private sector, management-analysis framework to the world of microenterprise development organizations?
Michou Kokodoko
September 2008 - Community Dividend
Native CDFIs work toward a new economic reality in South Dakota
Native community development financial institutions (CDFIs) are organizations that provide loans and financial services to underserved Native American communities. The Ninth Federal Reserve District
Sandy Gerber
September 2008 - Community Dividend
Turning equity into opportunity: Montana fund helps Native entrepreneurs enter the financial mainstream
A new small business funding program from the State of Montana is designed to address the severe shortage of equity among entrepreneurs in Indian Country.
Sue Woodrow, Philip Belangie
September 2008 - Community Dividend
Crow Nation, State of Montana sign UCC filing compact
May 2008 - Community Dividend
Mixed bag for 2008
2008 poll of Ninth District business leaders
Toby Madden
January 2008 - fedgazette
A little something for entrepreneurs
Minnesota State Roundup
November 2007 - fedgazette
HP announces microenterprise development grants
November 2007 - Community Dividend
Native CDFI awards announced
November 2007 - Community Dividend
What is a small business? Inc(reasing)
Business registrations have exploded in district states.
Ronald A. Wirtz
September 2007 - fedgazette
A new economic era for Native communities
In remarks delivered at the 2007 South Dakota Indian Business Conference, Elsie Meeks encourages American Indians to look to the future and recognize that they cannot build sovereign, independent nati
Elsie Meeks
July 2007 - Community Dividend
A word about do-it-yourselfers
Firms without employees offer insights and caveats to the trends of small business.
Ronald A. Wirtz
July 2007 - fedgazette
Business Registrations—Ninth District States
July 2007 - fedgazette
It's a jungle out there
The economic Darwinism of small business.
Ronald A. Wirtz
July 2007 - fedgazette
Professional services firms expect businesses to keep spending, consumers to reduce spending
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis annual survey of professional service firms.
Toby Madden
July 2007 - fedgazette
Small Business Trends—Ninth District States
July 2007 - fedgazette
The state of small business: Small is tough, but still beautiful
Though competitive pressures are seemingly everywhere, small businesses continue to anchor local and state economies.
Ronald A. Wirtz
July 2007 - fedgazette
What is a small business?
July 2007 - fedgazette
Microenterprise development in the U.S.: Past, present and future
To learn more about the history of microenterprise development organizations in the U.S. and the challenges these organizations face, Community Dividend spoke with Elaine Edgcomb, director of the Aspe
Michou Kokodoko
May 2007 - Community Dividend
Minneapolis launches Alternative Financing Program
May 2007 - Community Dividend
African American enterprises on the rise in Minnesota
Minnesota's African American entrepreneurs are likely to face a host of challenges that threaten to block their path to success. Fortunately, a network of organizations is ready to support African Am
Michou Kokodoko
November 2006 - Community Dividend
Newly formed business alliance promotes Montana's "Indianpreneurs"
The newly formed Montana Indian Business Alliance focuses on strengthening tribal sovereignty and economies by drawing attention to the important role the private sector can play in Indian Country.
Sue Woodrow
November 2006 - Community Dividend
Crow Nation is first to adopt model secured transactions code
July 2006 - Community Dividend
Tribal-citizen entrepreneurship: What does it mean for Indian Country, and how can tribes support it?
A condensed version of a speech Professor Cornell delivered at the Montana Indian Business Conference in Great Falls, Mont., on February 2, 2006.
Stephen Cornell
July 2006 - Community Dividend
A super model: New secured transaction code offers legal uniformity, economic promise for Indian Country
A recently completed model law that covers a type of commerce called "secured transactions" could provide the legal structure and consistency American Indian tribes need to facilitate borrowing from o
Paula Woessner
March 2006 - Community Dividend
Minnesota loan fund offers capital through community collaboration
Numerous small businesses and nonprofit organizations located in rural communities throughout Minnesota are benefiting from an innovative, nonprofit economic development loan fund known as the Minneso
Scott Martin
March 2006 - Community Dividend
Model tribal commercial code completed
September 2005 - Community Dividend
Twin Cities refugee groups tackle community development
Refugee groups in Minnesota are expanding their mutual assistance efforts to include community development activities.
Bo Thao
September 2005 - Community Dividend
Tribal colleges can be a key to Native entrepreneurship
For many American Indian tribes, tribal colleges are becoming a vital tool for promoting Native entrepreneurship.
Brad Bly
March 2005 - Community Dividend
Minnesota Rural Partners president receives SBA awards
November 2004 - Community Dividend
Secured Transaction Codes: An Important Tool for Tribal Economic and Housing Development
A discussion of how commercial codes are important tools for enabling and supporting tribal economic and housing development by improving access to commercial and consumer credit.
Sue Woodrow
September 2004 - Community Development Papers
HP awards grant to Neighborhood Development Center
August 2004 - Community Dividend
SBA launches new Native development initiative
August 2004 - Community Dividend
Business is open on Venus
Much is made about gender differences, but do those differences transfer to business owners?
Ronald A. Wirtz
May 2004 - fedgazette
I am woman. Hear my business roar
Women entrepreneurs are gaining ground and business experience. What does it mean for the district economy?
Ronald A. Wirtz
May 2004 - fedgazette
Running the gauntlet
Women today have unprecedented opportunities to start businesses, but a wide assortment of hurdles remains.
May 2004 - fedgazette
North Dakota needs to think small (firms), then big (exports)
Opinion-Letter to the Editor
Matthew Mohr
November 2003 - fedgazette
The taxing issue of e-commerce
District states are in the middle of the debate on Internet sales taxes
Frank Jossi
November 2003 - fedgazette
A conversation with ... Kou Vang of JB Realty
Community Dividend speaks with Kou Vang, a Hmong business leader, about credit availability and the economic evolution of the Twin Cities Hmong community.
August 2003 - Community Dividend
Credit availability: A snapshot of the Hmong business community in Minneapolis and St. Paul
A Federal Reserve study examines credit markets from the borrowers' perspective
Arthur J. Rolnick, David Fettig
August 2003 - Community Dividend
Fed luncheon focuses on credit access in the Twin Cities Hmong community
Lenders, community development professionals and small business owners gathered in St. Paul to discuss lessons learned from the Federal Reserve's study of credit access in the Twin Cities Hmong commun
Paula Woessner
August 2003 - Community Dividend
Linking immigrants to farming opportunities
For immigrants in the Twin Cities area, farming is a source of income, opportunity, and independence.
Devon Idstrom
August 2003 - Community Dividend
New Minnesota capital fund launched
August 2003 - Community Dividend
The Lakota Fund receives grant
August 2003 - Community Dividend
Indian business groups receive grants
November 2002 - Community Dividend
Wisconsin commission receives Pioneer Award
November 2002 - Community Dividend
A conversation with ... Wafiq Fannoun and Hussein Samatar
Community Dividend discusses Islamic financing with Wafiq Fannoun, business development specialist at Northside Residents Redevelopment Countil, and Hussein Samatar, a small business banking
August 2002 - Community Dividend
Alternative financing: Issues and opportunities for lenders and interest-averse populations
There is great demand among Muslims and certain other faith-based populations for alternative financial products that will provide access to credit in a manner consistent with their religious beliefs.
Nikki Foster, Nicole Bennett, Margaret Tyndall
August 2002 - Community Dividend
A conversation with ... Jay Kayne and Don Macke
Community Dividend discusses rural entrepreneurship with Jay Kayne, vice president of community and policy at the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, and Don Macke, project coordi
November 2001 - Community Dividend
Entrepreneurship in rural communities: An emerging strategy presents opportunities and challenges
As rural America faces mounting challenges, some communities are turning to entrepreneurship as a strategy for success.
Nikki Foster
November 2001 - Community Dividend
Montana firm receives SBA award
November 2001 - Community Dividend
Business ownership increases for Native Americans
August 2001 - Community Dividend
Mongolia: Ancient country works through daunting economic challenges
As a consultant to a lending institution in Mongolia in the summer of 2000, Community Affairs Analyst Thomas Moore got a firsthand look at the country's transition from communism to a free market econ
Paula Woessner
August 2001 - Community Dividend
A conversation with ... Elsie Meeks of The Lakota Fund
Community Dividend discusses the economic development efforts of The Lakota Fund with its executive director, Elsie Meeks.
November 2000 - Community Dividend
Economic development in Indian Country: Lessons learned by The Lakota Fund
By sharing 10 lessons learned from its lending activities, The Lakota Fund hopes to benefit all community developers.
Margaret Tyndall
November 2000 - Community Dividend
Indian business group receives $1 million grant
November 2000 - Community Dividend
A conversation with ... Elise Hoben and Bob Poznanski of Rural LISC
Community Dividend discusses rural community development corporations with Elise Hoben and Bob Poznanski, two noted experts from Rural Local Initiatives Support Corporation.
August 2000 - Community Dividend
Rural CDCs: Building the capacity for success
In many American rural areas, crucial community development services are provided by community development corporations, or CDCs.
Margaret Tyndall
August 2000 - Community Dividend
How do Minorities Fund Start-up Businesses?
Two minority neighborhoods in Chicago are surveyed to determine the source for start-up financing of businesses.
Robert Townsend, Paul Huck, Sherrie L.W. Rhine, Philip Bond
September 1999 - The Region
Microenterprise awards are announced
Two Ninth District organizations recently received awards for their outstanding work in the field of microenterprise development.
Stephanie Omersa
July 1999 - Community Dividend
E-commerce: For some businesses, the only way to go
Toby Madden
April 1999 - fedgazette
Tracking small business lending in the Ninth District: What the new CRA data allows
New data provides insights into small business lending in the Ninth District
Ron J. Feldman, Jason Schmidt
April 1999 - fedgazette
Model code addresses economic development in Indian Country
A model commercial code for Indian tribes is designed to encourage the business and lending communities to invest in Indian Country and foster economic development.
Maylinn E. Smith
July 1998 - Community Dividend
U.S. banks offered historic opportunity in Indian Country
To serve the emerging Indian-owned private enterprise market, bankers should understand the structure of the economies of tribal communities and the size of the potential market.
Patrick Borunda
July 1998 - Community Dividend
Why no one mourns the loss of the family chicken farm
A short history of poultry in the Ninth District
Edward Lotterman
April 1998 - fedgazette
Spotlight on success: The Anoka County partnership
The Anoka County Economic Development Partnership has allowed many groups and individuals to join forces and help launch and nurture businesses.
July 1997 - Community Dividend
Credit scoring and small business loans
Credit scoring is the process of assigning a single quantitative measure, or score, to a potential borrower that reflects the borrower's relative chance of going into delinquency or default.
Ron J. Feldman
April 1997 - Community Dividend
Lending to small firms and small farms
A snapshot of data on the distribution of business loans to farms and firms by the size of the loan.
Ron J. Feldman
April 1997 - Community Dividend
Taconite keeps Minnesota's Iron Range working
Kathy Cobb
October 1996 - fedgazette
A Simplified Example of Small Business Loan Securitization
Diagram
September 1995 - The Region
Proposed OCC “Agreement Table”
The OCC's Credit Assessment of a Bank's Loans Broken Down by How the Bank Assessed the Same Loans
Ron J. Feldman
September 1995 - The Region
Will the Securitization Revolution Spread?
While securitization has dramatically altered the way many lenders do business, small business lending has barely changed
Ron J. Feldman
September 1995 - The Region
Community development: an entrepreneurial approach
Robert Tosterud
July 1995 - fedgazette
Businesses blossom on Minneapolis' Franklin Avenue
Entrepreneur gives Minneapolis neighborhood a boost
Kathy Cobb
July 1992 - fedgazette
Development Center aids Indian-owned businesses
David Fettig
July 1992 - fedgazette
Gambling's booty extends beyond reservation to neighboring community
Redwood Falls gains from casino's jackpot
David Fettig
July 1992 - fedgazette
Incubator nurtures American Indian-owned and other minority businesses
Kathy Cobb
July 1992 - fedgazette
Montana's Indian manufacturers join forces
July 1992 - fedgazette
Students put aside books for 'real world' of bills, inventory and customer relations
Dean Davis
January 1992 - fedgazette
Big Sky information explosion
Dean Davis
July 1991 - fedgazette
County enters entrepreneurial fray, offers cash and loans to start-ups
David Fettig
July 1991 - fedgazette
Entrepreneur says starting business "is the best thing you can do"
Barbara Birr
July 1991 - fedgazette
Following first-ever takeover, Santee Sioux branch out on their own
David Fettig
July 1991 - fedgazette
Iverson seeks wilderness: From sand to snow, entrepreneur makes big change
David Fettig
July 1991 - fedgazette
Success in science and business have one thing in common: luck
Barbara Birr
July 1991 - fedgazette
This company earns a trophy for its efforts
Dean Davis
July 1991 - fedgazette
With little knowledge of business, immigrant studies way to success
David Fettig
July 1991 - fedgazette
Employers and local governments aren't immune from state budget ills
fedgazette Editorial
Connie Levi
December 1990 - fedgazette
Advisory Council Provides Insight into Economic Life of the Ninth District
A look at Minneapolis' Advisory Council on Small Business, Agriculture and Labor
David Fettig
May 1989 - The Region
